Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living: Support for Pensioners

Tuesday 29 October 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • More than 12 million pensioners will be protected by the Government's commitment to the triple lock.
  • The Government did an equality analysis on the change to the winter fuel payment, which was published in September.
  • The Minister recommends reviewing the equality analysis for details on the impact assessment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Luke Taylor Lib Dem Sutton and Cheam
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from concerns about the cost of living affecting pensioners.

Question

What fiscal steps is she taking to support pensioners with the cost of living?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

More than 12 million pensioners will be protected by this Government's commitment to the triple lock, with the new full state pension expected to increase by around £1,700 over the course of this Parliament. Pensioners also benefit from free eye test, free NHS prescriptions and free bus passes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address fiscal steps directly, only mentioned existing benefits.

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Q2 Luke Taylor Lib Dem Sutton and Cheam
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question addresses concerns about the winter fuel payment cut, lack of impact assessment before decision, and the burden on elderly due to complex application forms.

Question

We know that no impact assessment was carried out prior to the decision to cut the winter fuel payment, but was any consideration given to the burden that the daunting application form places on the elderly, and the extra burden on charities such as Age UK, which advise them on completing it? Evidence of that daunting burden is the 60% limit to uptake over the past decade. Will she work with her colleagues to simplify the application process, ease the burden on those who are losing the winter fuel payment, and help them receive the broad benefits that pension credit provides?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

The Government did an equality analysis on the change, which was published in September. I recommend that the hon. Gentleman take a look at it. It was such a long question that I have forgotten what he asked. On application forms—

Not addressed: Did not address any of the specific concerns about impact assessment, application burden or simplification.

How: I Have Forgotten What He Asked

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